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byline: Robyn Sidersky

W.M. Jordan Co. hires business development manager

W.M. Jordan Co. has hired as the firm’s business manager, the Newport News-based firm announced on Aug. 3.

Viola will focus on seeking new business and building relationships across the Hampton Roads region, according to a news release from W.M. Jordan.

The Maryland native previously worked for civil construction firms Iron Sheepdog Civil and Branch Civil. She is active in the Hampton Roads Association for , the Virginia Economic Developers Association and the Urban Land Institute.

“I grew up in the construction and development world and then married into it, as well.” Viola said in a statement. “I have always been intrigued by taking a raw development opportunity and watching it evolve into something great.”

Viola earned a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising from Virginia Commonwealth University and lives in .

Proposals for Norfolk’s Military Circle Mall redevelopment narrowed to 3

Three groups have submitted full proposals to the city of to redevelop Circle Mall.

In late 2020, Norfolk put out a call for developers to turn the struggling mall into a thriving mixed-use community. The city narrowed the list to four, but on Friday, just three proposals were released by the city, including one from a group that includes Grammy-winning superstar .

Norfolk’s Authority purchased the 75-acre property for $11 million and the nearby DoubleTree Hotel property for $2.4 million.

Two of the proposals include 15,000-seat arenas, and the third proposes an 8,000-seat outdoor amphitheater. All three propose medical office space, green area, residential communities and hotels.

Crossroads Partnership, which includes S.B. Ballard Company and NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith’s real estate company, describes its project as “a wellness .” The group proposes a 15,000-seat arena as the anchor, 987 apartments, a Sentara Healthcare office campus, a sports complex, space for retail, a 128-room Hyatt House hotel, green space, and cultural and educational partners.

Crossroads proposes building the first phase from Jan. 2022 through Oct. 2025, to include the arena, sports center, four parking decks, and work with the existing mall building. It would be about 3.5 million square feet of space and cost about $550 million. Then in the second phase, June 2023 through July 2026, it would build a school, retail and office space, and three more parking decks. It would be about 1 million square feet and cost about $128 million. Finally in the last phase, June 2024 through December 2029, it proposes the residential, and retail components, including a grocer. This would be about 1 million square feet and cost about $240 million. 

The Well, the proposal from Norfolk MC Associates, is shown in a rendering. Courtesy city of Norfolk

In its proposal, Crossroads writes that this project would bring 3,100 jobs during construction and 1,800 jobs during operations and $1.4 billion of new net revenue generated by the arena. 

Norfolk MC Associates LLC , which includes developer Bruce Thompson’s Gold Key | PHR, submitted a proposal called “The Well,” which is centered around a 9-acre-lake and 40 acres of park and open space. It promises $663 million in new capital investment, $17.7 million in annual tax revenues and $643 million through 2056 for Norfolk. 

The group projects 2,200 job opportunities; 1,800 permanent and 400 construction and would retain and enhance Sentara’s presence in Norfolk. 

The proposal would expand Norfolk State University’s campus with an on-site business center for small business startups and other programs. It adds 40 acres of parks and open space, 864 apartments of “market, workforce and senior housing,” an outdoor performing arts amphitheater, recreation center and calls itself a “model for sustainability.” 

“The Well” would include nearly 400,000 square feet for Sentara Wellness Village offices, about 86,400 square feet of office space, a 200-room hotel, about 160,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space and an 8,000-seat outdoor amphitheater.

It, too, promises a new grocery store.

The Wellness Circle, which includes Pharrell Williams as a partner, includes an arena in its proposal to redevelop Norfolk’s . Courtesy city of Norfolk

A third proposal, from Wellness Circle LLC includes Williams and Live Nation as partners.

Wellness Circle proposes using 4.83 million square feet on 89 acres, including a nearly 500,000 square foot arena with 15,400 to 16,500 seats,  1 million square feet of office space including a medical office campus, 143,000 square feet of retail, 80,000 square feet for food and beverage, a 210 room hotel, 54,700 square feet of community space, including a YMCA facility, and one of Williams’ Yellowhab schools, along with a pedestrian trail. It would also have residential space — 708 multifamily units, 147 townhomes and 288 low-income tax credit units.

Norfolk Next, a group that included The Garcia Cos. and Andrea Kilmer, was the fourth group of investors named earlier in the process, but it was not included in Friday’s announcement.

The next step in the process is to collect public input and a survey is being developed.

Norfolk software company to expand, create 37 jobs

A -based software company will expand its operation and create 37 jobs, announced Thursday.

SVT , a company that accelerates the deployment of industrial robotics, will invest $101,400 to expand in the Ghent area of Norfolk.

The company will build a lab to house robotic equipment used to demonstrate its proprietary platform capabilities for clients and industrial robotic manufacturers, according to a news release from the governor’s office. Virginia competed against California and Texas for the project.

launched in 2018 and develops products that expedite and streamline the deployment of industrial robotics in the manufacturing and warehousing industries. SVT’s platform allows companies to connect and integrate their systems to any robot or automation in days or weeks instead of months or years. Richmond-based venture capital firm New Richmond Ventures invested in the startup.

“We are thrilled by the ongoing efforts from the commonwealth of Virginia and the city of Norfolk to create an environment that is extremely friendly to tech startups,” A.K. Schultz, CEO and co-founder of SVT Robotics, said in a statement. “The … jobs grant will make it easier for SVT to create right here in Virginia. The ability to recruit the best technical talent is the lifeblood of tech companies and we applaud Virginia’s efforts to create strong tailwinds for firms like SVT.”

The , the city of Norfolk and the worked together to secure the project and will support the company through the Virginia Jobs Initiative Program, which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating jobs. The program reduces the number of HR costs of new and expanding companies.

“It has been a privilege for our team to work with SVT Robotics and the city of Norfolk and to watch SVT’s tremendous growth from a 757 Accelerate program graduate to a nationally-recognized robotics software developer,” Doug Smith, president and CEO of Hampton Roads Alliance, said in a statement.

Va. Beach Naval Air Station to allow private development

About 400 acres of underutilized land at Naval Air Station Oceana in could be leased for private , according to a new agreement between the and the city of Virginia Beach.

The agreement was signed Thursday.

The concept, known as Future Base Design, would mean that the land would be leased to private businesses in exchange for in-kind consideration that could provide building maintenance and other infrastructure projects on the installation, according to a news release from the Navy. The other goal is to reduce costs for the Navy.

Additionally, it creates economic and private business development opportunities to integrate public and private services currently provided by and accessible to only Department of Defense affiliated personnel, such as housing, dining, retail and recreation, according to the release.

The land is attractive because of its location adjacent to Interstate 64, the Oceanfront neighborhood and the Port of Virginia.

“We’ve got to bring in those new businesses and companies,” Virginia Beach Mayor Buddy Dyer said in a statement. “We’re running out of space [in Virginia Beach] in terms of land for development, but that just gives us a plethora of opportunities that we can take forward.”

The flight line and other essential activities would remain secure behind the installation’s fence line and would not be opened to the public.

The Navy would retain ownership of the land, but the city would find businesses compatible with the base’s mission. It is home to all East Coast strike-fighter units.

 

Northam will require state employees to get vaccinated

State employees will be required to show proof of a vaccine by Sept. 1 or be tested weekly, Virginia announced Thursday, as the delta variant has led to rising cases.

“Today, I’m taking an important step to protect employees,” Northam said at a news conference, adding that the measure is also “to keep the that we serve safe.” Recalling his time as an Army surgeon during the first Gulf War, Northam said he has intubated patients, much as frontline health care workers do today for COVID patients with the most severe cases, and that can prevent such serious cases in most people, even with the highly contagious delta variant.

The state employs about 122,000 people. About 72% or 73% of employees have been vaccinated, state Secretary of Administration Grindly Johnson said Thursday. She added that will be required to sign a form noting their vaccination status and that there will be exemptions for religious and ADA reasons, with details to come.

If employees choose not to get tested, “obviously we’ll take the next measure,” Northam said.

The state’s Department of Human Resource Management is expected to issue policies, procedures and guidance no later than Aug. 15.

The written directive specifies that the mandate applies to the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor, the secretary of the commonwealth, executive branch agencies, institutions of and others. It does not apply to state contractors.

“In order to protect the safety of Virginia’s workforce and the people we serve, it is necessary to require state employees to be vaccinated and to encourage other employers to do the same,” according to the written directive.

On Wednesday, the city of Richmond became the first Virginia locality to mandate vaccination of its employees, including those who telework, while President Joe Biden is also requiring federal employees to be vaccinated. Health systems, universities and businesses also have put in place requirements in recent weeks as rates of infection have risen among unvaccinated people.

In some places in Virginia, workers and have chafed at their employers’ vaccine requirements, including at various Valley Health hospitals in the Shenandoah Valley, where hundreds of employees have protested. Valley Health announced its employees must get vaccinated by Nov. 1 or face suspension or termination. At , where students are required to be vaccinated for the fall semester, whether they are attending in person or online, some have signed a petition protesting the order.

Northam’s directive is based on Biden’s mandate, the governor’s office said in a news release. Other states, including North Carolina, California and New York, have put in place vaccination requirements for at least some of their state employees, and Maryland has required that employees working in “congregate settings” must get their shots.

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, employers can require workers to be vaccinated against COVID as long as they do not violate the Americans with Disabilities and Civil Rights acts. In many states, lawmakers have submitted bills to ban such mandates, but so far, Virginia has passed no such , which would likely fail in the Democratic-controlled state legislature.

About 13,000 people a day in Virginia are getting a shot now, Northam said, and the Virginia Department of Health reported Thursday that 4.6 million people in Virginia are fully vaccinated, reflecting 54.3% of the total population, while 60.9% has received at least one dose.

When asked if Northam would mandate the general public be vaccinated, he said “I am in charge of 120,000…that is who I have control over.”

“I encourage businesses across the commonwealth to join that lead,” Northam said. “The time for waiting is over.”

In February, the passed a law requiring school divisions to provide in-person learning. The law requires that schools offer in-person instruction five days a week and follow Centers for Disease Control & Prevention mitigation strategies, Northam said.

“The CDC guidance is that people in schools need to be wearing masks,” he said. If school divisions choose not to follow the law, “they should have a frank discussion with their legal counsel.”

In terms of vaccinations, Northam said, “We still don’t have FDA authorization to vaccinate children younger than 12, although I am hopeful that this will come this fall just in the next few weeks.”

Virginia Tech names chief administrative officer

Virginia Tech has hired Charlene Casamento as its associate vice president for enterprise administrative operations, effective July 30, the university announced Wednesday.

Casamento will work alongside ‘s leadership, serving as the university’s chief administrative officer and executing university operational initiatives. She reports to Dwayne Pinkney, the university’s senior vice president and chief business officer.

She will play a key role in helping Virginia Tech built its capacity to deliver administrative and business services in a cost-efficient and effective manner through the use of advanced technological systems and service delivery models, according to a statement from the university. Casmento will also oversee communications, human resources, finance, IT and organizational excellence teams.

Casamento previously served as chief financial officer for Central Connecticut State University. She has also held roles with the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.

Casamento earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bentley University and an MBA from the University of Hartford.

SAIC lands $90M Air Force contract

Reston-based Fortune 500 Science Applications International Corp. () has been awarded a $90 million contract to help protect Department of Defense Combatant Commands from small unmanned aircraft systems.

The contract was awarded by the U.S. Air Force and its Life Cycle and Management Center, Force Protection Division, the company announced in a Tuesday news release.

The company will provide a broad range of integrated logistics, support and sustainment services necessary to modernize defenses against the threat of unmanned aircraft systems in the United States. SAIC will also work to repair and maintain counter systems, equipment and software, including help desk support, logistics, corrective and preventative maintenance, training and supply chain management.

Chesterfield EDA acquires former speedway property

Chesterfield County will purchase the former Southside Speedway property for $4.5 million, according to a news release from the county’s Economic Authority. The county’s board of supervisors approved the transfer of funds for to the EDA for the purchase on June 23.

The nearly 48,000-square-foot property purchase is part of a plan to expand the nearby River City Sportsplex and attract complementary uses along that section of Genito Road. River City Sportsplex draws about 120,000 visitors and $56 million in to the region annually, according to the Chesterfield EDA.

“The River City Sportsplex is a vital tourism asset to the region and the county. The purchase of Southside Speedway presents an opportunity to continue to increase the footprint of the Sportsplex while honoring the history of a beloved local institution,” Clover Hill District Supervisor Chris Winslow said in a statement. “The closure and sale of the speedway presents a chance to continue to support River City as a tourist destination, with the added benefit of spurring additional development in this strategic location in Clover Hill.”

The speedway announced its permanent closure last December, citing the pandemic as the reason. It held races for more than six decades.

New ABC laws go into effect July 1

Starting July 1, the (ABC) will begin enforcing new laws passed by the Virginia during its 2021 session, including allowing localities to create special large outdoor entertainment districts where consumption of would be allowed.

Other measures passed by the Assembly include allowing restaurants to continue selling cocktails to go, a holdover from the pandemic. is conducting a study ordered by the General Assembly on the issue of allowing long-term continuance of to-go alcoholic mixed drinks. More than 40 stakeholders are participating in the study.

Another bill will allow wine and beer to continue to be delivered without a delivery permit until Jan.1, 2022.

groups will be allowed to conduct virtual fundraising events, including the sale and shipment of wine in closed containers.

Two bills authorize the ABC, after the adoption of a local ordinance, to work with localities to create areas where consumption of alcohol will be allowed in areas such as entertainment or walking districts. In these locations, the frequency and duration of special events will be able to be increased under “designated outdoor refreshment area” licenses. Patrons will be allowed to consume drinks outside the establishments within the designated outdoor area, which could consist of several blocks.

Beginning Jan. 1, the ABC will stop selling low-alcohol beverages (spirits-based drinks that are 7.5% or less of alcohol by volume) in its stores, unless manufactured by a Virginia distillery.

The General Assembly also passed a bill that a local county or city attorney, commonwealth’s attorney and the attorney general can take enforcement actions against unlawful games of skill. This comes after Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney Joe Platania banned skill machines from the city in 2019, which resulted in a lawsuit from Queen of Virginia, the machines’ operator, that was ultimately dropped.

People Inc. names next president and CEO

Bryan Phipps has been named the next president and CEO of Abingdon-based Inc., the organization announced in a news release.

The 17-year veteran of the community action agency will serve as senior vice president until current President and CEO Robert G. Goldsmith retires at the end of December.

Phipp has more than 21 years of experience in nonprofit and management. As People Inc.’s vice president and chief development officer, he worked to increase the agency’s investment capital and services to low-income communities and was instrumental in the creation of People Inc.’s New Markets Tax Credit program. He will lead a staff of nearly 300 and manage a $30 million budget.

Phipps graduated from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise with degrees in history and political science and is a certified community action professional. He is a native of Clintwood and lives in Big Stone Gap with his wife and three daughters.

People Inc. offers a variety of services, including community and programs, including financial assistance microenterprise loans, business training and technical services. It serves Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Washington, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Frederick, Culpeper, Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Prince William counties and the cities of Bristol, Manassas and Manassas Park.